Young Readers Program
Chautauqua Institution is a community that values and celebrates reading, and since 1994, the CLSC Young Readers program has engaged young Chautauquans and community members in the enjoyment of good reading. Each summer, a selection of books are chosen for their quality, the variety of their styles and subjects, and their appeal to young readers. While aimed at 9- to 14-year-olds, these books will also delight younger and older readers.
Contact Information
Alyssa Porter
Director of Youth and Family Programs
aporter@chq.org
716.357.6489
2024 Book List
![The Great Greene Heist book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GreatGreeneHeist.jpg)
WEEK ONE
The Great Greene Heist
by Varian Johnson
Ages 10+
![Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BarackObama.jpg)
WEEK ONE
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
by Nikki Grimes
Ages 3+
![Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CodeBreakerSpyHunter.jpg)
WEEK TWO
Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars
by Laurie Wallmark
Ages 6+
![Ada Twist, Scientist book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AdaTwistScientist.jpg)
WEEK Two
Ada Twist, Scientist
by Andrea Beaty
Ages 3+
![The Hitherto Secret
Experiments of Marie Curie book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SecretExperiments.jpg)
WEEK THREE
The Hitherto Secret Experiments of Marie Curie
edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Henry Herz
Ages 12+
![Big book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Big.jpg)
WEEK THREE
Big
by Vashti Harrison
Ages 3+
![Big Tree book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BigTree.jpg)
WEEK FOUR
Big Tree
by Brian Selznick
Ages 7+
![Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez,
Daughter of the Nahua book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ChildoftheFlowerSongPeople.jpg)
WEEK FOUR
Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez,
Daughter of the Nahua
by Gloria Amescua
Ages 5+
![Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/InsignificantEventsintheLifeofaCactus.jpg)
WEEK FIVE
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
by Dusti Bowling
Ages 9+
![Drum Dream Girl book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DrumDreamGirl.jpg)
WEEK FIVE
Drum Dream Girl
by Margarita Engle
Ages 3+
![Solo book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Solo.jpg)
WEEK SIX
Solo
by Kwame Alexander
Ages 12+
![The Singer and the Scientist book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SingerandScientist.jpg)
WEEK SIX
The Singer and the Scientist
by Lisa Rose
Ages 5+
![Apple: Skin to the Core book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Apple-Skin-to-the-Core.jpg)
WEEK SIX
Apple: Skin to the Core
by Eric Gansworth
Ages 14+
![Mexican WhiteBoy book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MexicanWhiteBoy.jpg)
WEEK SEVEN
Mexican WhiteBoy
by Matt de la Peña
Ages 14+
![Milo Imagines the World book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MiloImaginestheWorld.jpg)
WEEK SEVEN
Milo Imagines the World
by Matt de la Peña
Ages 3+
![The Umbrella Maker’s Son book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/UmbrellaMakersSon.jpg)
WEEK EIGHT
The Umbrella Maker’s Son
by Katrina Leno
Ages 10+
![We Are Water Protectors book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WeAreWaterProtectors.jpg)
WEEK EIGHT
We Are Water Protectors
by Carole Lindstrom
Ages 3+
![Other Words for Home book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OtherWordsforHome.jpg)
WEEK NINE
Other Words for Home
by Jasmine Warga
Ages 9+
![Wutaryoo book cover](https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Wutaryoo.jpg)
WEEK NINE
Wutaryoo
by Nilah Magruder
Ages 4+
The Program
In addition to reading the summer’s selections, youth are invited to attend the related weekly program throughout the Chautauqua season. The program includes a brief book discussion followed by a presentation or activity led by community leaders, local organizations, and sometimes even the authors themselves.
While the most important feature of the Young Readers program is reading, all levels of participation are important and are encouraged — from reading only one of the selections to reading them all. The weekly programs are open to all youth, and reading the week’s selection is encouraged but not required for attendance.
![A Young Readers Program discussion](https://chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/071121_YoungReaders_IndianNoMore_DM_01.jpg)
Young Readers Medallion
The Young Readers medallion rewards young Chautauquans who read 16 books from the program’s historic book list. The medallion is made possible by the John H. Bliss Memorial Fund and the support of the CLSC Class of 2002.